#HerWorkMatters - Nicole's story

Emily Loud (Wonder Foundation)

As part of our #HerWorkMatters series, ahead of International Workers Day on Sunday 1st May, we're exploring the relationships between labour rights, empowerment and education, and encouraging others to share their stories.

Here, Nicole from Cañete, Peru tells her story. At 18 years old, she is studying hospitality management at Condoray college and is already now putting her skills to use to earn money.

"My family has achieved what it has through hard work. My father works as a security guard and my mother works independently selling cosmetics," says Nicole. She remembers that the 2007 earthquake affected her family a great deal, but her mother encouraged her to keep going, and taught her that life isn't easy. She shares, "My parents make great sacrifices to enable me to study in Condoray, as our financial situation is not very good, and I hugely value all that they do for me. Now I have passed the 5th part of the course in Hospitality Management.”

Nicole found about Condoray through her mother and decided to enrol in order to continue her studies, "It was a personal decision to choose this course as I saw that in a short time I could work and help my parents and siblings, and I also liked that the course not only taught technical knowledge, but also personal development. It's the career that I had decided to take up because through it I not only provide a quality service, but the recipient shows their satisfaction when they have been well looked after."

"I feel very good knowing that after having finished my professional practice as part of my studies, the business where I was learning not only referred to me by my name, but also as the ‘Condoray Student’, the student who has made an impact on their business, because I have been able to contribute towards improving some procedures. It really moves me when other people feel satisfied with the service I have provided as it shows me the positive side of the practical and theory classes that I receive at the institution.

The industrial placements that Condoray arranges as part of our studies help us to have more practical experience, something which businesses value. Hospitality is a career in which you never stop learning and thanks to my studies I know how to prepare not only Peruvian dishes, but also foreign ones and I can generate an additional income through catering, which is a great support to my family. I have put my earnings into paying back bank loans that were taken out to complete the construction of my family’s house.

I can generate an additional income through catering, which is a great support to my family. I have put my earnings into paying back bank loans that were taken out to complete the construction of my family’s house.

Throughout my studies I have learnt how to complete my personal goals through the personal development classes. I have managed to develop more self-confidence, to cultivate values, to address my weaknesses, to understand others. With certainty I can say what I want to do in the future. In my final year of studies I will finish enriching myself with experiences and knowledge, so that I can then create a food and drink business with my family. This will improve the family finances which is important as I have younger siblings and I have a responsibility to help my parents with my their education. I have so much to be thankful for, so much to learn.

The international events in which I participated have been special. I have seen a lot of professionalism focused in their preparation. I saw that every event requires perfection in every detail. All of this has permitted me to see another environment and has made me reflect on the effort that I must put in to reach my goals and to be a source of strength to my family.

I am thankful for my personal and professional training. What I have learned has greatly improved our situation as I have shared it with my parents and siblings."

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